Cozy hippies, nice cheerful bags, homemade jewelry, beautiful cloths and Ibizan clothing. And all that wonderfully outside under the sun with relaxed music in the background. Your holiday in Ibiza can't go by without a visit to one of the hippie markets! Ibiza has several hippie markets, but the two largest are the markets of Las Dalias and Punta Arabi (Es Canar). Las Dalias is one of the two most famous hippie markets in Ibiza. This market originated on Valentine's Day in 1985 with just five stalls and a handful of visitors. The 'mercadillo las Dalias' has now grown to about 200 stalls. The stalls are located in a courtyard surrounded by leaves of vining plants. And that handful of visitors? On some Saturdays in high season, there are now as many as 20,000! Fortunately, this does not make the market any less fun. Las Dalias is more than just a market with a few stalls. Nowadays you can also go there for delicious food, cocktails, live music and more. Just relax? Then pay a visit to the massage tent!

Ibiza town or “Eivissa” in Catalan is the capital and also the largest city of the island. Consists of the historic, old part of the city 'Dalt Vila' (where you will find the cathedral), in addition you have the new part of the city that is located around the Vara de Rey, the old port, the district 'Sa Penya' and finally the new port and the luxury marina 'Marina Botafoch' (across the road). Plan a full day to discover Ibiza town: in the morning the old part of town 'Dalt Vila', then lunch, the new part of town with the port, some shopping, an aperitif on the Plaza del Parque and then towards the new port and Botafoch to finish with dinner. Discover all the hotspots of Ibiza town at the bottom of this page: the not-to-miss restaurants, bars and shops! If you look up when you arrive in Ibiza town, you will see it immediately: Dalt Vila. With a history dating back 2500 years, the city of Eivissa is considered one of the oldest cities in Europe. The island's official name is "Eivissa" in Catalan, but its Spanish name, Ibiza, is probably better known to most of us. Dalt Vila, the old, historic town, is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site! The architecture and design have not changed since the construction in the 16th century, including the original defensive walls. A must during your Ibiza holiday: a walk through Dalt Vila, all the way to the top of the cathedral. A spectacular view and ditto holiday photo are the reward for this steep hike… Therefore, preferably start in the morning when it is not yet too hot. Wear comfortable, closed shoes with a good grip, no flip flops! The paving stones in the narrow streets can be very slippery.

A lovely sandy beach of two kilometers long, trendy hotels and a lively nightlife ensure that Playa d'en Bossa is the holiday destination of Ibiza for young audiences. Playa d'en Bossa has the longest sandy beach on the entire island of Ibiza. That is the main reason that the tourist resort has been developed here. The convenient location in relation to the international airport of Ibiza and the clubs in surrounding villages and towns ensure that Playa d'en Bossa is well situated on the island. Clubs within walking distance, a disco bus to Sant Antoni de Portmany and beautiful bays and beach clubs within a 10 to 20 minute drive. What more does a person need on vacation. In addition to the beach and clubs, Playa d'en Bossa has a fairly large array of restaurants, bars and shops to keep the public entertained. Notable buildings are the Ushuaïa Beach Hotel and the very first European Hardrock Hotel. These two high-rise hotels are all about parties. Ushuaïa is without a doubt one of the best and most popular open-air discotheques in the world.

I visited a few beaches where you can really enjoy snorkeling, chilling and lunch:

1. Sa Figuera Borda

Let’s start off strong! One of Ibiza’s most popular beaches is Cala Conta, which gained its fame due to its white sandy beaches and azure waters. It’s a beautiful place with good amenities, but did you know there’s an equally stunning spot almost around the corner that’s infinitely less crowded? Better for snorkel, more shaded and significantly quieter than nearby Cala Conta, with bonus “secret” cave, is Sa Figuera Borda. At night this spot apparently features the occasional secret party, but during the day it’s a fantastic place to put those goggles to good use and go exploring. There’s plenty of underwater variety to be had: seagrass fields, a patch of bright white sand and plenty of rock formations. Leave the cave area to swim across and you’ll even find another gorgeous little cove that can only be reached by swimming (or boat, kayak etc.). You can reach Sa Figuera Borda by passing right through Cala Conta’s parking lot and continuing for around five minutes on an unpaved access road. Then, it’s a few wobbly steps down to the cave and you’re there.

2. Cala Alto de Porta, San Antonio

This one’s a perfect little cove to visit if you’re staying in Sant Antoni de Portmany, better known as San Antonio. You could even walk there, although during high summer it may be better to take a taxi if you don’t have a rental car or scooter, lest you perish of heat stroke on the way. Cala Alto de Porta consists of a small slab of concrete (courtesy of the boat ramps it holds) and some pebbles. Not much to look at – until you explore the underwater part, which is lovely and lush. The views are also beautiful. This cove offers no amenities, but you’re a hop, skip and a jump away from the aquarium at Cap Blanc. The aquarium itself is tiny, although I thought it was fun enough to spend the fee and have a look. There’s also a restaurant where you can use the restroom or score some snacks and cold drinks.

3. Cala Llonga

One of the more popular places on this list, Cala Llonga has plenty of amenities and is particularly perfect for families. It’s also accessible for folks with limited mobility, since you can walk straight from the parking area to the beach with no hills or stairs. Cala Llonga consists of a large cove with a sandy beach, surrounded by a large resort as well as multiple shops and restaurants. It’s great if you just want to splash around a bit, but I also found it to be more than worth it to visit in order to go snorkeling. My tip is to rent a kayak! I got one right on the beach itself for €15/hr and it allowed me to explore the entire cove, including some tiny pebble beaches that are otherwise impossible to reach. The area is very varied, with deep waters in the middle and rocky zones full of life along the sides.